Buyer Database · Production Company · Updated
Plan B
Plan B is actively expanding into the UK and Europe through a newly launched London subsidiary while continuing to develop emotionally complex, prestige-driven features for global audiences.
Current mandate
Plan B occupies a distinctive position in the prestige feature landscape: a company willing to spend years in development on projects that are, by its own admission, difficult to get made. Its content focus runs toward tragic romance, epic love stories grounded in intense realism, and material drawn from overlooked corners of America, including South Louisiana settings steeped in myth and magic. That appetite for emotionally complex, deliberately paced work defines its brand as much as any single title.
The company's most visible current production is "H Is For Hawk," a feature adaptation produced alongside Film4 and directed by Philippa Lowthorpe. Plan B has been attached to the project since 2017, originally with Lena Headey set to direct, making it a clear example of the company's long-development, high-commitment approach to prestige material. Lionsgate UK is releasing the film in UK and Ireland cinemas.
Access to Plan B runs through its tracked decision-maker network, which currently includes 11 executives. The newly launched Plan B Europe subsidiary, headed by Ed McDonald in London, represents an emerging pathway for UK- and Europe-based writers and producers. Leadership has signaled that additional UK-based projects will be announced shortly, making this a live window for outreach aligned with the company's stated European growth priorities.
Signature peaks
- 21 Activity Records (12mo) — Signals tracked over the past year
- Since 2017 Years on 'H Is For Hawk' — Reflects long-development, high-commitment model
- 60% Mediawan Stake — Paris-based partnership underpinning global reach
Mandate dimensions
- Genre focus
- drama, romance
- Territory focus
- Not disclosed
- Budget tier (observed)
- Not disclosed
- Access pattern
- The primary current access pathway is Plan B Europe, the company's newly launched London subsidiary headed by Ed McDonald, which is in an active build phase with additional UK project announcements reportedly imminent. For US-based material, outreach runs through Plan B's 11 tracked decision makers, typically via representation. The company's long development cycles and co-production model with partners such as Film4 suggest that projects arriving with institutional attachments or strong underlying rights will receive the most traction.
- Deal structure
- Plan B operates as a development and production company, typically attaching as producer on prestige features with long development timelines. It co-produces with institutional partners (Film4 on "H Is For Hawk") and operates within a broader ownership structure in which Mediawan holds a 60% stake, providing a Paris-based financing and distribution network. Distribution is handled externally; Lionsgate UK is releasing "H Is For Hawk" in UK and Ireland cinemas. No acquisition amounts from recent deals are on record.
Market context
"We love making things all over the world." — Brad Pitt's Plan B, on its global production philosophy amid a formal European push.
Plan B occupies a distinctive position in the prestige feature landscape: a company willing to spend years in development on projects that are, by its own admission, difficult to get made. Its content focus runs toward tragic romance, epic love stories grounded in intense realism, and material drawn from overlooked corners of America, including South Louisiana settings steeped in myth and magic. That appetite for emotionally complex, deliberately paced work defines its brand as much as any single title.
Common questions about Plan B
Does Plan B accept unsolicited scripts or pitches?
Plan B has not made a public statement confirming open unsolicited submissions. Like most production companies operating at its level, access is typically relationship-driven. However, the launch of Plan B Europe under Ed McDonald in London represents a new and actively staffing arm of the company, which may present a more accessible entry point for UK- and Europe-based writers with material aligned to the company's prestige mandate. Outreach timed to this expansion window is worth considering.
How does Plan B attach to and develop projects?
Plan B is known for long-development commitments. Its attachment to 'H Is For Hawk' dates to 2017, with the project going through at least one director change before reaching production with Philippa Lowthorpe. The company co-develops with institutional partners, as evidenced by its collaboration with Film4 on that title. Its willingness to back projects that are, by its own description, difficult to get made signals a development culture that prioritizes creative ambition over speed to market.
What is Plan B currently producing?
Plan B is currently releasing 'H Is For Hawk,' a feature adaptation directed by Philippa Lowthorpe and produced alongside Film4, with Lionsgate UK handling UK and Ireland theatrical distribution. Leadership has also teased that additional UK-based projects will be announced shortly through the newly formed Plan B Europe subsidiary. The company's broader content focus includes tragic romance, epic love stories, and material rooted in overlooked American settings with elements of myth and realism.
Who leads Plan B and Plan B Europe?
Plan B's leadership includes executives tracked across an 11-person decision-maker network, with Gardner and Kleiner cited in recent coverage as key voices on the company's strategic direction. Plan B Europe, the newly launched London-based subsidiary, is headed by Ed McDonald. Mediawan, the Paris-based media group, holds a 60% stake in Plan B, and Gardner has cited the Mediawan partnership as central to the company's global production approach.
How do you get in touch with or submit to Plan B?
The most current access pathway is through Plan B Europe, the company's newly established London office headed by Ed McDonald, which is actively building its UK and European slate. Leadership has publicly signaled that more UK-based project announcements are imminent, suggesting the subsidiary is in an active intake phase. For US-based material, the core Plan B network of 11 tracked decision makers remains the primary route, best approached through representation or established industry relationships.
Is Plan B actively acquiring new projects right now?
Plan B's activity metrics show 21 records over the past 12 months, with the latest signal dated May 2025, indicating ongoing market engagement. Unique deal closings in the most recent 30- and 90-day windows are recorded at zero, though deal velocity registers at 1 in the 30-day window. The launch of Plan B Europe and leadership's explicit statement that more UK-based projects will be announced shortly both point to an active, if selective, acquisition posture weighted toward prestige and emotionally complex material.
Adjacent buyers in this lane
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- LuckyChap — LuckyChap is scaling its creator-driven production model into the U.K. and Europe through LuckyChap
- Federation Studios — Federation Studios is a Paris-based production and distribution group actively seeking a major capit
Related reading
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